Backup - How Safe Is Your DATA?
by Simon Morris
How Safe Is Your DATA?
What if you wake up tomorrow morning, only to see an error message and to find that some of your important files had become corrupted? You may no longer be able to open some files - or, even worse, files might have gone missing without a trace.
Welcome to the world of data loss!
If you rely on your computer, then this would be a total disaster. If you run any kind of web site or online business, things would get worse before they got better.
Imagine losing your entire ezine subscriber base. Need I say more? Backing up your data on a regular basis is not an option, but a necessity - for the sake of both your business and your sanity.
Consider the following statistics, which show the most common reasons for data loss:
- 42% Mechanical Failure
- 34% Human Error
- 15% Software Failure
- 6% Viruses
- 3% Natural Disaster
(Statistics taken from The Security News)
Repeat out loud: Backup, backup, backup!!
Now that you've got the message, you'll need to know how to go about backing up your data. There are several options available, but for the purpose of this article I want to concentrate on the different methods of online backup available over the internet.
Basically, there are two types of online backup services.
With the first, once you have downloaded the software and installed it on your PC you just connect to the backup provider's server and away you go. Just select the files you want backed up and then transfer them over the internet, rather like using FTP to upload your web pages to your web host.
This option usually entails a monthly fee of anywhere from $5-$20. The software is easy to use, and restoring your files is just as simple as backing them up in the first place. You can back up as many files as you wish and even your entire PC if you like, although this will take quite some time.
If the worst happened and you lost everything, you could just restore all of your files back onto your computer. As this may take a while, some services will provide you with a CD containing everything you have backed up, though often there is an extra charge of about $20 for this.
The second option is to use a web-based backup service. You can do this from your browser window and, as with web-based e-mail, you have access to your files from any computer with an internet connection. This kind of service will generally provide you with 10-20 MB of file space and is most often free. You can't back up quite as much using this system, but if you just need to back up the odd file or two, then this could be the best option for you.
Top Tips For Backup:
- Know where your important files are located.
- Keep your backup disks safe.
- Keep several copies of important data.
- Store disks in different locations.
- Decide on a backup schedule and stick to it.
- START TODAY. Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry!
- Replace backup disks regularly.
The following are a number of different backup services. Have a look through the list - you should find something that works well for you. Remember the key is in having a simple system and putting it into practice.
Repeat out loud: Backup, backup, backup!!
Connectedhttp://www.connected.com FreeDrivehttp://www.freedrive.com X Drivehttp://www.xdrive.com Drivewayhttp://www.driveway.com Maxisafehttp://www.maxisafe.com Managed Storagehttp://www.sgii.com |
E-storehttp://www.e-stor.net @Backuphttp://www.backup.com StoreActivehttp://www.storactive.net BackUpNethttp://www.backupnet.com eVault.comhttp://www.evault.com MySpacehttp://www.freediskspace.com |
About the Author
Simon Morris is the owner of 'eWeb 101 Internet Marketing' His latest product 'SalesCopyClinic' reveals how to position you product for maximum results, how to create desire by exaggerating benefits and how to generate self interest with every word you write. http://www.eweb101.com/x/01